Arusha, 1 March, 2016: The Republic of Benin becomes the eighth AU Member State to make the Declaration under Article 34 (6) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Right to allow Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individuals directly access the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The Declaration was deposited to the African Union Commission on February 8, 2016.

Others State Parties to the Protocol which have made the Declaration recognising the competence of the Court to receive cases from NGOs and individuals are: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda and Tanzania.

The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights is a continental court established by the AU to enhance the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.

As at 31 January, 2016 thirty (30) countries had ratified the Protocol out of 54 AU Member States.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

The Court was established by virtue of Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The Protocol was adopted on 9 June 1998 in Burkina Faso and came into force on 25 January 2004.The Court officially started its operations in November 2006.

Further information can be obtained from the Court’s website at www.african-court.org.